Hat display stand



Dec. 6, 1960 D. MILLER 2,963,166

HAT DISPLAY STAND Filed April 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3. FIG. 2.

FIG.

INVENTOR. DAV/D M/LLEZQ WWW nrrabhlzrs Dec. 6, 1960 D. MILL-ER HAT DISPLAY STAND 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1957 INVENTOR.

DA V/D MILLER ATPHRNCVJ HAT DISPLAY STAND David Miller, 262 Central Park W., New York, N.Y.

Filed Apr. 12, 1957, Ser. No. 652,612

1 Claim. (Cl. 211-32) This invention relates generally to display devices, and is especially concerned with a novel display stand for hats and like articles.

While the device of the present invention has been primarily developed and employed for use in the displaying of hats, and will be illustrated, and described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it is appreciated that the device is capable of many and varied applications, all of which are intended to be comprehended herein.

As is well known in the hat industry, due to the irregular shapes of hats, a problem exists in attractively displaying hats within a reasonable space, while affording both visual and manual access to the hats by prospective customers. Although numerous hat display devices have been proposed in the past, these prior devices have not been entirely satisfactory for several reasons, some of which are that the prior devices did not afford adequate protective support to the hats being displayed, were relatively heavy, bulky and expensive in construction, and were often difiicult to use.

It is therefore a general object of the present inven tion to provide a display stand for bats which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages, attractively presents a great number of hats to view while occupying a minimum of space, efiectively protects the displayed hats from damage and wear, and affords convenient access to the hats by a customer.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a display device having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph which is extremely simple, light in weight and durable in construction, which is adapted to be quickly and easily disassembled and reassembled for economy of space in storage and shipment, and which is capable of being manufactured and sold at reasonable cost.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an elevational View showing the base and journal shaft of the instant display stand;

Figure 2 is an elevational view showing the column of g the present device;

Figure 3 is an elevational view showing a display member of the present device;

Figure 4 is a plan view showing a hat carrier of the instant device;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the hat carrier of Figure 4;

Fi'tates Patent ice 2,963,166 Patented Dec. 6, 1960 Figure 6 is a top plan view of the base and shaft of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the column of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the display element of Figure 3; and

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the subject display stand in assembled condition, partly broken away for clarity of understanding.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to Figure 9 thereof, the display stand there illustrated includes a pedestal or base 20 adapted to rest on a floor or other appropriate surface, an upstanding column, generally designated 21, mounted on top of the base 20 for axial rotation thereon, and the display element, generally designated 22, which is carried on the upper end of the column 21. It will also be observed that a plurality of hat carriers, each generally designated 23, project laterally outward fromv the column 21 for supporting hats on display, as at 24.

More specifically, the pedestal or base 20 is of generally truncated pyramidal configuration, being fabricated primarily of wire or rod stock, and includes a plurality of downwardly diverging legs 27, each formed of a generally U-shaped wire and having its lower end or bight portion 28 bent laterally outward to define a floor-engaging foot. A pair of generally horizontally disposed, vertically spaced base members 29 and 30, each preferably fabricated of wire stock in the form of a closed configuration or polygon, is arranged between and rigidly secured to the legs 27. As best seen in Figure 6, the upper polygonal element 30 is of a configuration similar to but smaller than the lower polygonal element 29, and the legs 27 are fixedly secured, as by welding or the like, each to an adjacent pair of corners of the polygonal elements so as to be fixed in their downwardly diverging relation. A top plate 31 is welded or otherwise fixedly secured in horizontal disposition on the upper polygonal base element 30, preferably extending through the central region thereof. Similarly, a plate 32 is fixedly secured extending across the lower polygonal base element 29 directly below the plate 31; and, the plates 3-1 and 32 are preferably provided with vertically aligned apertures for receiving the journal shaft or tube 33 which is Welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the plates 31 and 32.

The column 21 is fabricated of a plurality of generally horizontally disposed, vertically spaced elements 35, 36, 37, and 38, all of which may be of the same closed configuration, preferably each defining a closed wire polygon. A plurality of elongate angle members 39, 40, 41, and 42 are arranged to extend vertically each receiving and being fixedly secured to the vertically spaced corners of the polygonal elements 3538. That is, each of the polygonal elements 35-38 has its corners respectively secured, as by welding or the like, to the angle members 39-42, while each of the angle members is secured to vertically aligned corners of all of the polygonal members. For reasons appearing presently, each of the angle members is formed in each of its flanges with a plurality of vertically spaced pairs of apertures, as at 45 in the angle member 39, and at 46 in the angle member 40. That is, the apertures 45 and 46 of each pair are spaced laterally or horizontally from each other, while the pairs of apertures of each angle member are spaced vertically from each other. Further, the pairs of apertures on the coplanar flanges of adjacent angle members, such as the pairs of apertures 45 and 46, are vertically offset or spaced from each other, so that each pair of apertures 45 is located at a level intermediate the levels of adjacent pairs of apertures 46.

- each other.

In order to further rigidify the column 21,.a. plurality of vertically extending rods 49, 50, 51, and 52 is arranged in spaced relation within the vertically spaced polygonal members 35-38 and each. fixedly secured, as by welding or the like, to each of the polygonal members at vertically spaced points thereof. Further, the rods 49-52 are preferably each located to extend in spaced relation between an adjacent pair of angle members 39-42. Secured on the underside of the lowermost polygonal member 35 of the column 21, in generally horizontal relation, is a bottom plate 55. The bottom plate 55 preferably extends through a central region of the lowermost polygonal member 35, and is formed with a through aperture or opening preferably centrally of the member 35. An additional horizontally disposed plate 56 extends across and is fixedly secured to an upper one of the polygonal column members, say member 37, directly over the lower plate 55, and is formed with a through aperture 57 centrally of its polygonal member and in vertical alignment with the aperture in the lower plate.

It will now be apparent, that with the column 21 on the base 20, the plate 55 will seat in bearing engagement on the plate 31, and that the apertures of the plates 32, 31, S5, and 56, will all be in vertical alignment with Thus, the journal shaft or tube 33, which is fixed to and projects vertically upward from the base 20, may extend rotatably through the aligned apertures of the plates 55 and 56 to constrain the column 21 to rotation about its axis and that of the shaft.

The display member 22 has the form of an inverted,

truncated pyramid, and includes a pair of similarly configured, polygonal wire members 60 and 61 arranged in horizontal relation, one over the other. It will be noted that the upper horizontal polygonal member 61 is larger than the lower horizontal polygonal member 60, thereby defining the inverted-truncated pyramidal configuration. The horizontal polygonal members 61 and 66 are fixedly secured together in their vertically spaced relation by a plurality of downwardly converging rods or members 62, 63, 64, and 65, each of which is secured to a pair of adjacent corners of the polygonal members and depends therefrom below the lower polygonal member 60. That is, each of the rod members 62, 63, 64, and 65 is respectively provided with a depending extension or tongue, as at 66, 67, 68, and 69. Each of the tongues 66-69 is substantially identical, so that a detailed description of one will sufiice. The tongue 68 is bent to form an outwardly projecting bight or loop 70, adjacent to and just below the lower polygonal member 60, and the tongue extends from the loop generally downward and slightly inward, terminating in an outwardly bent terminal portion 71. I On opposite outer sides of the display element 22 are preferably fixed generally trapezoidal panels 74, advantageously possessing reflective qualities. Thus, the panels 74 serve as mirrors. On other outer faces of the display member 22 may be secured additional display panels 75, which may carry advertising indicia, if desired. With the display member 22 in its normal position of Figure 3, it will be apparent that the mirrors 74 and display panels 75 decline inward, so as to be easily observed when placed slightly above eye level.

As best seen in Figure 9, the display member 22 may be quickly and easily assembled with the column 21, by merely forcibly inserting the tongues 66-69 downward into the upper end of the column. That is, with the display member 22 arranged above the upper column end, the display member is moved downward to engage each of the depending tongues, by inward resilient deflection thereof, into a respective one of the column angle members 39-42. Downward movement of the display member 22 is limited by engagement of the tongue bights 70 with the upper ends of the respective angle members, while accidental removal of the display member is effectively prevented by engagement of the tongue termini 71 beneath the upper polygonal element 38 of the column.

The hat carriers 23 are all substantially identical, and are best seen in Figures 4 and 5. It will there be observed that each hat carrier may be formed of wire stock, and includes a main, elongate member 78, which may be formed of a single U-shaped wire having its bight portion 79 at its outer end. The free ends of the U-shaped elongate member 78 are bent upward, as at 80, defining end extensions disposed at an obtuse angle with the adjacent inner region 81 of the elongate member. In normal operative condition, the elongate member 78 declines generally outward, and its inner region 81 declines outward generally toward the outer end portion 79. An intermediate region 82 of the elongate member 78 is bent upward, to define a retainer as will appear presently, and the outer region 83 of the elongate member is bent downward and outward from the upper end of the intermediate retainer region 82. A relatively long, normally horizontally disposed crosspiece 84 is fixedly secured at its mid-point to an outer end region of the elognate member 78, adjacent to its bight end 79. A relatively short crosspiece or abutment 85 is fixedly secured on the underside of the elongate member 78, adjacent to and spaced slightly outward from the inner end extensions 80.

In assembly, each of the hat carriers 23 has its inner end extensions inserted inward through an adjacent pair of angle-member apertures 45 or 46, and upward on the inner side of the adjacent angle member, as best seen in Figure 9. This inward insertion of the inner end extensions 80 is limited by abutting engagement of the cross member with the outer surface of the adjacent'angle member. In this condition, the inner end extensions 80 of each hat carrier 23 serve to maintain the'respective hat carrier in a downwardly and outwardly projecting relation away from the column 21. Ahat 24 may then be attractively, safely, and conveniently displayed on each carrier 23, with the brim of the hat supported on the iner region of the elongate member 81 'and on spaced regions of the crosspiece 84; and, the retainer'82 -extends into the crown of the hat and engages therein to maintain the hat in its supported position. That is, the hat is normally supported in an outwardly declining position, and the retainer serves to prevent falling or sliding of the hat from its carrier, while permitting quick and easy removal and replacement of the hat, if desired. Of course, the hat carriers 23 may be located in any desired arrangement on the column 21 to achievea variety'of aesthetic effects.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a display stand which fully accomplishes its intended objects, and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that *free end portions of the legs of said elongate member being bent to extend obliquely with respect to the adjacent portions of said elongate member, a stop member secured to said elongate member extending transversely of and laterally beyond the portions of said elongate member adjacent to said free end portions, and a cross piece secured to and extending crosswise of and laterally beyond the bight portion of said elongate member sub- 5 stantially co-planar therewith, said cross piece extending 181,667 laterally beyond said stop member. 346,293 406,163 References Cited in the file of this patent 5 2 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2:672:513 D. 161,083 Bernstein Dec. 5, 1950 2,766,958

6 Gould Aug. 29, 1876 Lavaggi July 27, 1886 Faries July 2, 1889 Mentzer Nov. 26, 1907 Vitale Aug. 24, 1948 Zam'novich Sept. 11, 1956 Levy Oct. 16, 1956 

